The Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross () is a commemorative medal awarded to all soldiers of the Polish II Corps who fought in the battle of Monte Cassino and the battles for Piedimonte and Passo Corno. After the capture of Monte Cassino in May 1944, the Polish government-in-exile (in London) created a campaign cross to commemorate the role of the Polish II Corps (often known as Anders Army) in capturing this strategic point, which had long blocked the Allied advance up the Italian peninsula.
A consignment of 50,000 crosses was ordered from a manufacturer in Tel Aviv, then part of British-ruled Palestine, where the Polish forces had spent part of 1942 and almost all of 1943 in training. A total of 48,498 crosses (serial numbers 1 to 48,498) were awarded with accompanying award documents issued in the field to each soldier who took part in the battle. Although it is commonly believed that no master record exists to indicate which serial numbers were given to specific soldiers, records do indicate which blocks of serial numbers were given to units within the Polish II Corps. Furthermore, the actual lists of named cross recipients are held at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum.
The 1502 un-awarded crosses (serial numbers 48,499 to 50,000) were eventually sold off to dealers and collectors. At the moment of its institution in June 1944, the medal was 19th in the Polish order of precedence.
The Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross was issued to the following units:<br /> <big>CROSS No. UNIT</big>
1 Senior Commanders - General Wà Âadysà Âaw Anders, General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps <br /> 2 Senior Commanders - General Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko, Deputy General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps <br /> 3 Senior Commanders - Bishop Józef Gawlina, Polish Army Field Bishop <br /> 4 Senior Commanders - General Bolesà Âaw Bronisà Âaw Duch, General Officer Commanding 3 Carpathian Rifle Division <br /> 5 Senior Commanders - General Nikodem Sulik, General Officer Commanding 5 Kresowa Infantry Division <br /> 6 Senior Commanders - General Bronisà Âaw Rakowski, General Officer Commanding 2 Armoured Brigade <br /> 7 Senior Commanders - General Roman Odzierzyà Âski General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps Artillery<br /> 8 Senior Commanders - General Prof. Dr Bolesà Âaw Szarecki, General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps Medical Services <br /> 9 Senior Commanders - Colonel Dr. Ludwik Zàbkowski, Commanding Officer 2 Artillery Group, 2 Polish Corps <br /> 10 Senior Commanders - Colonel Kazimierz Wià Âniowski, 2 Polish Corps Chief of Staff<br /> 11 Senior Commanders - Colonel Stanisà Âaw Skowroà Âski, 2 Polish Corps Quartermaster<br /> 12 Senior Commanders - Colonel Mieczysà Âaw Zaleski, Commanding Officer 2 Polish Corps Signals Units <br /> 13 Senior Commanders - Colonel Konstanty Skàpski, Commanding Officer 2 Polish Corps Engineering Units<br /> 14-749 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff <br /> 750 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff â Melchior Waà Âkowicz, War Correspondent <br /> 751-1102 Killed in Action 3 Carpathian Rifle Division <br /> 1103-2043 Officers 3 Carpathian Rifle Division <br /> 2044-14702 Other Ranks listed Alphabetically 3 Carpathian Rifle Division <br /> 14703-14750 Not Awarded<br /> 14751-15246 5 Kresowa Infantry Division Headquarters Staff <br /> 15247-15375 Headquarters Staff 5 Wilno Infantry Brigade <br /> 15376-16136 13 Wilno Rifle Battalion <br /> 16137-16878 14 Wilno Rifle Battalion <br /> 16879-17615 15 Wilno Rifle Battalion <br /> 17616-17743 Headquarters Staff 6 Lwow Infantry Brigade <br /> 17744-18477 16 Lwow Rifle Battalion <br /> 18478-19206 17 Lwow Rifle Battalion <br /> 19207-19938 18 Lwow Rifle Battalion <br /> 19939-20656 4 Light Artillery Regiment <br /> 20657-21362 5 Light Artillery Regiment <br /> 21363-22027 6 Light Artillery Regiment <br /> 22028-22654 5 Anti-Tank Regiment <br /> 22655-23554 5 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment <br /> 23555-24438 15 Poznan Lancer Regiment <br /> 24439-25130 5 Heavy Machine Gun Battalion <br /> 25131-26019 5 Engineers Battalion 5KDP <br /> 26020-26526 5 Signals Battalion <br /> 26527-26770 5 Sanitary (Medical) Company <br /> 26771-27016 6 Sanitary (Medical) Company <br /> 27017-27059 Command Supply and Transport Units <br /> 27060-27324 5 Supply Company <br /> 27325-27583 6 Supply Company <br /> 27584-27966 15 Supply Company <br /> 27967-28307 16 Supply Company <br /> 28308-28443 5 Workshop Company [5 EME Coy.] <br /> 28444-28586 6 Workshop Company [6 EME Coy.] <br /> 28587-28691 5 Provost (Military Police) Squadron [Coy.] <br /> 28692-28733 6 Light Artillery Regiment <br /> 28734-28739 15 Poznan Lancer Regiment <br /> 28751-28975 Headquarters 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade <br /> 28976-28987 On secondment to 2nd Armoured Brigade <br /> 28988 Headquarters 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade <br /> 28989-29672 4 Skorpion Armoured Regiment <br /> 29673-30328 1 Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment <br /> 30329-30992 6th Children of Lwów Armoured Regiment <br /> 30993-31188 9 Signals Company <br /> 31189-31385 9 Light Sanitary (Medical) Company <br /> 31386-31909 9 Supply Company <br /> 31910-32105 9 Workshop Company [9 EME Coy.] <br /> 32106-32246 9 Forward Tank Replacement Squadron [Coy.] <br /> 32247-32269 6 Field Court, 2nd Armoured Brigade <br /> 32270-32300 Not Awarded <br /> 32301-32332 Command, 2nd Artillery Group <br /> 32333-32361 Staff, Counter-Battery Section <br /> 32362-33050 7 Horse Artillery Regiment <br /> 33051-33055 7 Horse Artillery Regiment - Wounded <br /> 33056-33057 7 Horse Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action <br /> 33058-33759 9 Medium Artillery Regiment <br /> 33760-33767 9 Medium Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action/Died of Wounds <br /> 33768-34364 10 Medium Artillery Regiment <br /> 33765-34367 10 Medium Artillery Regiment - Wounded <br /> 33768-34374 10 Medium Artillery Regiment â Killed in Action <br /> 34375-34936 11 Medium Artillery Regiment <br /> 34937-34940 11 Medium Artillery Regiment - Wounded 27/4 to 11/5/45<br /> 34941-34945 11 Medium Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action/Died of Wounds<br /> 34946-34949 11 Medium Artillery Regiment <br /> 34950-34951 Command, 2nd Artillery Group<br /> 34952-34960 Not Awarded<br /> 34961-34978 Command, 2 Corps Artillery <br /> 34979-35631 7 Anti-Tank Regiment <br /> 35632-35657 7 Anti-Tank Regiment - Killed <br /> 35658-36543 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment <br /> 36544-37518 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment <br /> 37519-38083 1 Artillery Survey Regiment <br /> 38084-38655 Carpathian Lancer Regiment <br /> 38656 Colonel Henryk Ignacy Szymanski (USA) US Army Liaison<br /> 38657-38760 Carpathian Lancer Regiment <br /> 38761-38776 Command, 2 Corps Engineers <br /> 38777-39697 10 Battalion, Corps Engineers [10 Polish Corps Troops Engineers] <br /> 39698-40043 10 Bridging Company <br /> 40044-40297 301 Engineering Company <br /> 40298-40370 304 Mechanical Equipment Platoon <br /> 40371-40398 10 Bomb Disposal Platoon <br /> 40399-40420 306 Engineering Park <br /> 40421-40438 Command, Army Signals 2 Corps <br /> 40439-41052 11 Signals Battalion <br /> 41053-41061 2 Corps Signals Traffic Control Team <br /> 41062-41111 Corps Artillery Fire Control Signals Platoon <br /> 41112-41167 Command, Corps Artillery Group Signals Platoon <br /> 41168-41234 11 Special Radiotelegraphic Platoon <br /> 41235-41245 12 Special information Platoon <br /> 41246-41280 386 Signals Platoon <br /> 41281-41320 389 Medium Radio Platoon <br /> 41321-41338 2 Corps Signals Park <br /> 41339-41371 Seconded from 7 Inf.Div for Telephone Network Security <br /> 41372-41440 Air Support Signals Section <br /> 41441-41446 Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section <br /> 41447-41449 Heads of 2 Corps Medical Services <br /> 41450-41615 3 Casualty Clearing Station [stationed at Venafro] <br /> 41616-41783 5 Casualty Clearing Station [stationed at Pozzilli] <br /> 41784-42159 161 Military Hospital [later 2 Military Hospital - stationed at Campobasso] <br /> 42160-42171 Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section <br /> 42172-42328 162 Military Hospital [also known as 6 Field Hospital - stationed at Venafro]<br /> 42329-42736 1 Military Hospital [later 5 Military Hospital - stationed at Casamassima] <br /> 42737-43169 3 Military Hospital [stationed at Palagiano] <br /> 43170-43415 31 Sanitary (Medical) Company <br /> 43416-43443 32 Field Hygiene Platoon <br /> 43444-43451 34 Anti-Malaria Section <br /> 43452-43460 45 Surgical Team <br /> 43461-43470 46 Surgical Team <br /> 43471-43480 47 Surgical Team <br /> 43481-43489 48 Surgical Team <br /> 43490-43493 49 Transfusion Team <br /> 43494-43497 50 Transfusion Team <br /> 43498-43514 341 Field Medical Dump <br /> 43515-43520 Field Bacteriological-Chemical Unit <br /> 43521-43541 Heads, Supply and Transport Services <br /> 43542-43589 Command, 2 Corps Supply & Transport Units<br /> 43590-43863 21 Transport Company<br /> 43864 Brigadier Sir E H C Frith (UK) C.O. 26 British Liaison Unit <br /> 43865-43970 21 Transport Company<br /> 43971-44403 22 Transport Company <br /> 44404-44768 23 Transport Company <br /> 44769-45159 24 Transport Company <br /> 45160-45369 29 Ambulance Company <br /> 45370-45419 30 Independent Workshop Platoon <br /> 45420-45459 326 Supply Dump <br /> 45460-45501 327 Supply Dump <br /> 45502-45539 328 Supply Dump <br /> 45540-45617 61 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Supply Unit <br /> 45618-45715 62 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Supply Unit <br /> 45716-45777 331 Mobile Field Bakery <br /> 45778-45843 332 Mobile Field Bakery <br /> 45844âÂÂ45884 334 Propellant Fuel Dump <br /> 45885-45912 336 Office Materials Dump <br /> 45913-45923 Delegation of Head of Field Canteens <br /> 45924-45973 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company <br /> 45974-45986 Command, 26 Field [Forward] Supply Centre <br /> 45987-45999 Command, 27 Field [Forward] Supply Centre <br /> 46000-46012 Command, 28 Field [Forward] Supply Centre <br /> 46013-46026 Heads, Corps Material Services <br /> 46027-46045 Heads of Non-divisional Material Service Units <br /> 46046-46207 Command, Corps Material Park <br /> 46208-46251 Material Parks Delivery Platoon <br /> 46252-46257 Field Officers shop <br /> 46258-46269 Field Ammunitions Laboratory <br /> 46270-46377 350 Material Company Supply Station <br /> 46378-46480 375 Field Laundry <br /> 46481-46496 377 Field Bath <br /> 46497-46515 378 Field Bath <br /> 46516-46527 Heads of Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service <br /> 46528-46693 13 Workshop Company [13 EME Coy.] <br /> 46694-46872 15 Workshop Company [15 EME Coy.] <br /> 46873-47123 35 Workshop Company [35 EME Coy.] <br /> 47124-47127 Corps Ordinance Workshop <br /> 47128-47294 36 Rescue Company <br /> 47295-47303 Heads of Geographical Services <br /> 47304-47455 12 Geographical Company <br /> 47456-47475 312 Field Map Store <br /> 47476-47484 Command 2 Corps Provost (Military Police) <br /> 47485-47648 11 Provost (Military Police) Squadron [Coy.] <br /> 47649-47659 1 Provost (Military Police) Platoon <br /> 47660-47676 2 Provost (Military Police) Platoon <br /> 47677-47756 Command, Army Service Corps Units <br /> 47757-47958 Guard Battalion <br /> 47959-47966 Heads, Justice Service <br /> 47967-47994 12 Field Court <br /> 47995-48006 Office of War Graves Registration <br /> 48007-48046 370 Evacuated Equipment Park <br /> 48047-48089 371 Evacuated Equipment Park <br /> 48090-48135 372 Evacuated Equipment Park <br /> 48136-48149 2 Corps Inspectorate for Control of Technical Equipment <br /> 48150-48151 Heads, Field Postal Service <br /> 48152-48171 2 Corps Field Postal Department <br /> 48172-48178 2 Corps Military Censors Office <br /> 48179-48216 2 Corps Meteorological Section <br /> 48217-48230 Command, 2 Corps Financial Service [Paycorps]<br /> 48231-48257 2 Corps Press and Culture Office <br /> 48258-48263 Press and Culture Office, non-divisional units <br /> 48264-48272 Command Station No.1 <br /> 48273-48290 Smoke Screen Unit <br /> 48291-48293 Soldiersâ Welfare Section <br /> 48294-48355 Concert and Entertainment Section <br /> 48356-48385 Reserve Liaison and Translator Officers <br /> 48386-48399 111 Bridge Security Company <br /> 48400-48407 Health Service Inspectorate, Women's Auxiliary Service (Poland) <br /> 48408-48498 Independent Commando Company <br /> 48499-48505 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff <br /> 48506-48514 Cipher Office and Radio Station <br /> 48515-48517 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment <br /> 48518 7 Anti-Tank Regiment <br /> 48519 301 Engineering Company <br /> 48520 389 Medium Radio Platoon <br /> 48521-48523 2 Provost (Military Police) Platoon <br /> 48524 Heads, Supply and Transport Services <br /> 48525-48526 <br /> 48527-48529 24 Transport Company <br /> 48530-48531 29 Ambulance Company <br /> 48532-48535 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company <br /> 48536 35 Workshop Company [35 EME Coy.] <br /> 48537 13 Workshop Company [13 EME Coy.] <br /> 48538-48540 5 Military Hospital (Previously 1 Military Hospital) <br /> 48541-48542 162 Military Hospital <br /> 48543 161 Military Hospital <br /> 48544-48547 111 Bridge Security Company <br /> 48548-48553 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff <br /> 48554-48580 Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section <br /> 48581 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment <br /> 48582-48583 Smoke Screen Unit <br /> 48584-48585 3 Casualty Clearing Station <br /> 48586 31 Sanitary (Medical) Company <br /> 48587-48597 Guard Battalion <br /> 48598-48600 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff <br /> 48601-48687 5 Kresowa Infantry Division (Various) Added after 22.2.1945 <br /> 48688-48691 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff <br /> 48692 2 Corps Signals Traffic Control Team <br /> 48693 Carpathian Lancer Regiment <br /> 48694-48696 Heads of 2 Corps Medical Services <br /> 48697-48710 Heads, Supply and Transport Services <br /> 48711-48715 Heads of Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service <br /> 48716-48720 Command, Army Service Corps Units <br /> 48721-48749 <br /> 48750-48759 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff <br /> 48760 7 Anti-Tank Regiment <br /> 48761 1 Artillery Survey Regiment <br /> 48762-48796 Convalescent Home (2 Battalion) <br /> 48797 Heads, Supply and Transport Services <br /> 48798 Heads, Corps Material Service <br /> 48799-48821 Guard Battalion <br /> 48822-48823 2 Corps Press and Culture Office <br /> 48824-48830 <br /> 48831 663 Artillery Observation Air Squadron <br /> 48832 <br /> 48833 7 Anti-Tank Regiment <br /> 48834-48845 <br /> 48846 Convalescent Home (2 Battalion) <br /> 48847 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
<small>The units listed above are not the official British War Office designations, but rather a close translated version taken from the Polish.</small>
This information was brought to you courtesy of Andrzej Sankowski, and The Polish Institute and General Sikorski Museum. It was compiled by Dr. Mark Ostrowski. Recent research has established that the initial figures cited above were miscalculated and in fact the last known cross given to a named recipient was 48847. The complete list of named recipients is at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in File AXII/85/214, Folders 1-19.